Teachable and Kajabi are two of the most popular course platforms, but they solve different problems. Teachable is a course-selling platform with marketing add-ons. Kajabi is a marketing platform with course tools built in. The right choice depends on which side of that equation matters more to you.
Teachable vs Kajabi: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Teachable | Kajabi |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $39/mo (Starter) | $89/mo (Kickstarter) |
| Transaction Fees | 7.5% on Starter; 0% on Builder+ | 0% on all plans |
| Email Marketing | Not built in (use external) | Built-in with automation |
| Sales Funnels | Basic (landing pages only) | Full funnel builder |
| Mobile Apps | Native iOS & Android | Branded app (Pro plan) |
| Affiliate Marketing | Strong, built-in | Basic |
| Product Limits | 1-100 by plan | 3-100 by plan |
| Student Support | Not included | Not included |
| Best For | Course selling at scale | All-in-one marketing + courses |
Pricing: Teachable Is Significantly Cheaper
This is the most straightforward difference. Teachable starts at $39/month (Starter plan, with 7.5% transaction fees) and its 0% fee Builder plan is $89/month. Kajabi starts at $89/month (Kickstarter, limited to 1 product and 250 contacts), with the Basic plan at $179/month.
On an annual basis, Teachable's Builder plan ($89/mo) costs roughly $1,068/year. Kajabi's Basic Kickstarter ($89/mo) costs $1,068/year — similar to Teachable's Builder. But the useful Basic plan ($179/mo) costs $2,148/year — a $1,080/year difference. (For a detailed look at Teachable's pricing, see our Teachable pricing and fees guide.)
However, if you're currently paying for Teachable plus a separate email service ($30-80/mo) plus a landing page tool ($30-60/mo), Kajabi's all-in-one pricing may actually be cheaper overall. Calculate your total tool spend before comparing platform prices alone.
Course Features: Teachable Has the Edge
Both platforms offer solid course creation tools, but Teachable focuses more narrowly on them:
- Native mobile apps — Teachable provides iOS and Android apps for students. Kajabi only offers a branded app on its Pro plan ($399/mo).
- Certificates — Available on all Teachable paid plans. Kajabi also offers them, but with fewer customization options.
- Affiliate marketing — Teachable's built-in affiliate system is more developed than Kajabi's.
- Course selling focus — Teachable's interface is streamlined for creating and selling courses without the complexity of marketing automation.
Marketing Tools: Kajabi Dominates
This is Kajabi's core advantage. Teachable is a course platform with some marketing features. Kajabi is a marketing platform that also does courses.
- Email marketing — Kajabi includes full email automation (sequences, broadcasts, segmentation). Teachable has no built-in email — you need ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or similar.
- Sales funnels — Kajabi has a visual funnel builder with landing pages, checkout, and upsell flows. Teachable offers landing pages but nothing approaching a funnel system.
- Website builder — Kajabi includes a full website builder. Teachable focuses on course pages.
- Automation — Kajabi's automation rules trigger email sequences, tag contacts, and manage pipelines based on user behavior. Teachable relies on external tools for automation.
Community Features: Both Are Limited
Neither Teachable nor Kajabi is a community-first platform. Both have basic community features, but if community is central to your offering, you'd likely need a separate tool (or consider platforms like Circle or Mighty Networks).
Who Should Choose Teachable?
- Course creators who want focused selling tools without marketing complexity
- Creators who already have an email service they like and don't want to switch
- Those who need native mobile apps for students
- Affiliate-driven businesses where referral tracking matters
- Budget-conscious creators (especially at the $59-89/mo range)
Who Should Choose Kajabi?
- Creators who want email, funnels, and courses under one roof
- Those currently paying for 3+ separate tools (course platform + email + landing pages)
- Coaching businesses where email nurture sequences are central to sales
- Creators with enough revenue to justify $149+/month
- Those who value consolidation over best-of-breed tools
A Third Option: Teaching-Focused Platforms
Both Teachable and Kajabi optimize for selling courses. But if your priority is the teaching and learning experience — live cohort programs, student engagement, having your students' tech issues handled — neither platform focuses there.
Ruzuku takes a different approach: zero transaction fees on every plan, native Zoom integration for live sessions, student tech support included, and unlimited courses and students starting at $99/month. It doesn't have Kajabi's marketing suite or Teachable's mobile apps, but for educators and practitioners who prioritize teaching quality, it fills a gap both platforms leave open.
See how all three compare: Ruzuku vs Teachable · Ruzuku vs Kajabi
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Teachable to Kajabi (or vice versa)?
Yes. Both platforms allow you to export course content. The main complexity is rebuilding email sequences and funnels if switching from Kajabi, or setting up email marketing from scratch if leaving Teachable. Student enrollment data doesn't transfer automatically.
Which platform has better student completion rates?
Neither platform publishes completion rate data. Course completion depends more on your course design, engagement strategies, and teaching approach than on the platform itself. Both offer progress tracking, but neither is specifically optimized for learning outcomes.
Is Kajabi worth 2-3x the price of Teachable?
It depends on your tool stack. If you're paying $89/mo for Teachable plus $50-80/mo for email marketing and landing page tools, Kajabi at $89-179/mo may save you money while reducing complexity. If Teachable is your only tool and email marketing isn't central to your strategy, the premium is harder to justify.
Bottom Line
Teachable and Kajabi serve different needs. Teachable is the better pure course-selling platform — focused, affordable, with mobile apps and affiliates. Kajabi is the better all-in-one business platform — consolidating email, funnels, and courses at a premium price. Choose based on whether you need marketing tools built in (Kajabi) or prefer best-of-breed tools alongside a focused course platform (Teachable).
Not sure either is right? Take our 2-minute platform quiz or explore all platform comparisons.